A local firm specializing in facilities to protect against electromagnetic pulse attacks is carving out a leading market position with a series of patents and its decades-old experience in the increasingly important defense field.

Established in 1989, YES EMP Research Center has five patents regarding EMP protection. It is the only local firm capable of designing, installing and maintaining EMP protection systems specifically tailored for each customer.

With its accumulated know-how, the firm has offered its advice on EMP protection to Seoul’s Ministry of National Defense and other organizations. EMP protection has emerged as a crucial defense area for the country, as North Korea’s military threats have persisted.

The firm has constructed EMP protection facilities in the ministry and other military installations including those of the U.S. Forces Korea. It has also undertaken a series of private security projects to build systems to measure electromagnetic waves in major local firms.

“We have carried out seven EMP-related projects for the USFK, and also have various EMP engineering technologies,” said Chong Su-jin, head of the firm. “With our technologies certified by the state, we have successfully carried out various defense projects.”

What sets Yes EMP Research Center apart from the others is that the firm has strived to design protection facilities based on its exhaustive study of clients’ needs to address specific security conditions of each client, the company said.

EMP protection has been a core security area for military authorities and key public organizations as possible EMP attacks from the North could paralyze their operations.

EMP weapons unleash a high-intensity burst of electromagnetic energy that causes severe current and voltage surges to damage nearby electronic devices.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)